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2 Sheets-Sheet- 2.

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T. WHITAKBR.

PILE DRIVING MACHINE.

FIG 4 FIG 7 NVE NTOR Patented Mar. I0, 1885.`

Ny PETERS. Pnnm-Lvnwwpher. wnsmngmn. D, C.

17th of December, 1884,) of which the follow- Unirse artnr ritieni THOMAS VHITAKER, OF HORSEFORTH, COUNTY OF YORK, ENGLAND.

PlLE-DRIVING MACHINE.

. iPECII-ICATION i'ormingpart of Letters Patent No. 313,637, dated March l0, 1885.

Application tiled January 5, 1885, (No model.) lPatented in England February 0, 1884, No. 3,027.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Beit known that I, THOMAS WHITAKER, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at I-Iorseforth, in the county of York, Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pile-Driving Machines, (for which I have applied for Letters Patent in England, dated 9th of February, 1884, No. 3,027, and in France on the ing is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in pile-driving machines in which the whole of the parts of the engine are supported o-n the pile itself, and as t-he pile is driven into the soil the engine followsV the pile, and occupies the same position with regard to it at every blow. My invention also does what I believe no other invention has yet done. It enables me to bring the full driving-power of the steam to bear upon the head of the pile at each stroke as by means of apparatus above the cylinder, wedging the latter tight to the guides, to prevent any upward movement while i allowing free downward movement. My invention provides a strong abutment for the upward pressure of the steam on the cylinder-cover, while allowing the cylinder to sink and follow the pile freely as it descends.

In order that my invention may be better understood, reference is given to the accompanying drawings, in which. Figure l is a iront elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are respectively enlarged side elevation, front elevation, and plan of parts ofpile-driving apparatus. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are details.

Ais the framework of the pile-driving niachine, provided with the central upright leaders, a a, on which the pile-driving mechanism works. The framing A is mounted on wheels a2, so as to be easily removed fromone place to another.

In the drawings, Figs. land 2, I have shown a vertical boiler, B, for supplying steam to the pile-driver, fixed to thelower portion of the framing A, so as to'move with it; or, when preferred, it may be fixed permanently and pipes be carried to the pile-driving apparatus. n

C is a crane or winch for raising the piles or double acting) fitted with the requisite,

piston, covers, glands, and valves. I would here remark that almost any of the cylinders, pistons, and valve-gear now used on steamhammers would be suitable. I therefore do not make any claim for a special kind of cylinderpiston and valve-gear, and in the drawings have showu this portion without going `much into detail.

On the cylinder D is cast the projections or lugs d d', which pass through and litso as to slide freely between the upright leaders a af,

and on these projections are mounted the runners ci?. These are made to work against the iron plates a3 and t, fixed to the back of the upright leaders a a', and thereby retain the cylinder D against the front or face of the upright leaders, as shown, at the same time It may be worked` allowing the cylinder to freely slide up and y down. On the top of the cylinder' are cast to the cover the lngsrfi and (1*, and to the projec tion d the lugs d5, to which are respectively attached the links d, d, and (ZS. The links d6 are attached to the lug d by means of a pin, di), and through their upper ends pass a second pin, d10, to which a chain, E, may be hooked or fastened for raising the cylinder and piledriver independently of the framing (to be hereinafter described) which is carried by the links di and d. This chain E passes over a sheave or pulley mounted on the top of the framing A to the winch C. Slot-holes are provided in the links d, to allow of the rod or line x 00, Fig. 8.) These wedges are made to roo work in pairs against the iron facing a3 and a, and are attached together by means of a conrnecting-piece, g, stretching across the opening or space between the two guides or upright leaders ct and a, and also passing through the two slotsf in the sides of the frame F, thereby preventing the wedges G from rising or falling. The links di and d3 are attached in pairs tothe lugs d4 and d5 by means of pins, and at the opposite ends of and between each set of links is mounted a runner, du, made to bear against the double wedges G by means of a second set of links, d, d, d, and d, These links d, d, d, and du are pivoted at one end to the frame F and at the other end to the same pins on which the runners are carried. The links d, di, d, and e115 are arranged at an. angle, as shown, and by their combination with the rollers du and links d7 and d8, cause the links dl and d8 to press the rollers d with great force against the double wedges G upon the slightest upward movement of the cylinder D, thereby resisting, eftectnally, any farther upward "movement of the cylinder. At the same time the cylinder D is free to slide down the guides or upright leaders a a', carrying with it the link s di and d3 and rollers al, and thus relieving the pressure from the double wedges G and leaders u a.

J is the pipe through which steamis sup- `plied to the cylinder D from the boiler B.

-. This pipe is flexible for portions of its length,

to enable the cylinder D to slide from the top to the bottom of the guides or leaders a a without any cessation of the action of the motive power. At Fig. 2 I have shown this pipe J supported and balanced by means of a rope, j, passing over a pulley or sheave, j', and weighted at j". -This permits of the pipe J adjusting itself to the varying positions ofthe cylinder D.

K is the exhaust-pipe.

. L is a lever 'pivoted at Z, and connected to the valve-spindle at Z for working the equili brium-ralvc in case M by hand, when required.

N is a tappet-lever carried on a pin on lever P, and geared to the valvespindle by means of a link, n, one end of the link being attached to the valve-spindle at Z on the same pin that receives the lever L, while the other end is attached to a pin on the heel n of the lever N, as shown. The lever N is bent in order to v make the apparatus automatic, and that the action of the steam on the top of the piston may continue to the end ofthe stroke, and thus give what is known as a dead-blow77 to the pile I. The monkey H, in ascending, forces the tappetlever N out as it approaches the completion of its upward stroke by coming in Contact with the projecting part a2 of the bent lever N, and thus lifts the equilibriumvalve. A strong spiral spring, n, (attached at one end to the heel n of the lever N, and at the other end secured to a quadrant, 0,) is employed for pulling the equilibrium-valve quickly down, and also for forcing the lever N in toward the monkey H when the monkey descends for driving the pile.

P is a lever by which the action of the steam in the cylinder may be varied to suit circumstances. This lever P is attached to lugs on the cylinder-bottom by means of a pin,and by movingthe lever P up or down in the quadrant O the lever N is raised or lowered, and the action of the valve regulated to themovev4ment of the monkey H. The notches in the quadrant O are employed for retaining lever P in any desired position. The end of the piston-rod d1 is enlarged, and formed into a ball, 7i, to which the monkey or pile-driver H is attached by means of the bushes h', which are dovetailed into the monkey H, and retained inposition by means of the blocks h2 and cotters h3, and by this means the monkey H is enabled to slightly adj ustitself to theinequalities of the top of the pile l.

On the monkey H is c 1st the projection h4, which passes through and fits so as to slide freely between the upright leaders a and af, and on this is mounted four runners, h5, made to Work against the iron plates a3 and a4 on the back of the upright leaders. By this means'the monkey is kept up to the face of the leaders and free to slide up and down as required.

Q is a strong'rod, which passes through a hole, q, in the monkey H. The upper'end,q,is attached to lugs q2 on the cylinderfcover D, and carries the cylinder and its appendages, while the lower end, g3, rests upon the pile l. By this arrangement it will be readily seen that the whole of the parts of the engine and piledriving apparatus are supported by the pile itself, and as the pile is driven into the soil the engine follows, and consequently the pile occupies the same position with regard to the engine at every blow. The engine may be carried by more than one rod, answering to that marked Q; or the rod or rods may pass outside the monkey H,if preferred. The rod Q may be made in two or more pieces screwed into each other, as shown at Fig. 6, or thelength varied in order that with a shortl stroke of the piston a longer pile may be placed in position, if required.

I Vprefer to enlarge the end ql of the rod Q, as shown,to prevent it entering the pile;-or a plate of iron may be inserted onto the top of the pile I to prevent the rod Q penetrating. When the end g3 of the rod Q is enlarged, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 3. and 6, it will be found necessary to countersink the opening in the lower face of the monkey H, so as to form a recess, qt,- in which the splayed or enlarged end q3 mayfit when thc monkey descends upon the pile.

A platform or stage may, when required,be attached to the cylinder,on which the attendant vmay stand to work the valve-levers; or a rope may be'attached to these levers so that they can be operated from the bottom of the 'pile-driving frame A.

I would here remark that hot air or gas may IOO IIO

Aleg to pass through, and having a recess, Q,

be used in lieu of steam, and also that when it is required to shorten the pile-driving frame A the cylinder may be fixed alongside the monkey, and the monkey may be carried by l a strong projecting arm from the piston-rod,

which may be carried through the top oi' the cylinder. I prefer, however, to place the cyl inder above the monkey, as described and shown. The framing A ofthe pile-driving apparatus may also be constructed so as to drive the piles at any angle.

The mode of action is as follows: The pile is raised into position by means of the chain' E, and the cylinder and monkey having previously been raised to the top of the leader c a by the same chain,they are supported on the top of the pile by the rod Q. Steam is admitted to the cylinder from boiler B, which causes the piston to risevor fall (as the valves are worked) carrying with it the monkey H, and, as each blow of the monkey drives the pileinto the soil, the cylinder and its appendages follow the pile until thepile is driven home77 by successive blows from the monkey. Uien the pile has been driven home,the cylinder is again raised to the top ofthe pile-driving frame by chain E and winch C, ready for the next operation.

Preparatory to raising cylinder D to the top ofthe frame, it is necessary, in order to release the wedges G, that the frame F be attached to chain E, so that the frame may be raised bodily with the cylinder, and at the same time, or that the pins connecting the links d12 alla dli (E15 with frame F betemporarily removed.

I am aware it is not new to support the cylinder upon a leg passing through the monkey and resting upon the pile, and hence do not claim such idea, broadly.

I claim as my invention- I. A pile-driving machine in which the cylinder rests by means of a support on the pilehead, and is double acting, the upward' pressure of the steam in the cylinder-head being taken up by wedge apparatus, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in pile-driving engines, of a doubleacting cylinder, D, capable o1" sliding freely downward as far as allowed by the pile upon which it rests, but prevented from rebounding upward by wedging apparatus with the piston-rod and monkey H, substantially as described.

3. Theleg Q,supported on the pile-head and having a splayed end, g, in combination with the monkeyH, bored or cored out to allow the cutout to avoid the splayed end of the leg when the monkey falls upon the pile.

4. The combination of the cylinder D with tenances sliding with it, by which means thel minimum of unbalanced pressure is brought to bear on thelateral supports of the cylinder.

5, The combination of the piston-rod d1, having the spherical end h and the spherical bearing 71, with the monkey H, by which means the monkey is free to hang and strike slightly out of the perpendicular without bringing a severe cross-strain on the rod.

6. 'Ihe combination of t-he spherical pistonrod end h, bearings 7L', and side blocks, h2,with the cotters 7i, binding them to the monkey, all substantially as described.

7. The combination of the monkey H, bearing against the front of the vertical iron-shod guides a, the flange bearing against the side ofthe guides, the rollers h, bearing against the back of the guides, andthe piston-rod ball h, attached to the top of the monkey, whereby the monkey is guided in every direction laterally, and -forced down by a steady guided force vertically, substantially as described.

8. In combination. a double-acting steam or other motivepower hammer' forming a piledriver resting on the head of a pile, a wedging device, G, preventing the cylinder from rising, yet leaving it free to sink with the pile, substantially as described.

9. The combination of the frame F cut away to admit of the wedges G, with the wedges G cut away in the center to pass through and be held in place by the frame F, substantially as and for the purposes described.

l0. The combination oi' the wedges G, with the rollers du, and the sustaining-link d?, d8, du, and c l, by means of which a heavy press` ure is brought to bear on the wedges by any rising motion ofthe cylinder, while the wedges arc deprived of pressure and are free to slip by any falling motion ofthe cylinder..

Il. The combination of the plate F, levers d d, sloping downward atV an oblique'angle from F, and levers dld, linked to the cylinder D with the wedge Gand' abutment a, by which means, when the cylinder falls the strain is taken oft' the wedge and it and the plate F fall, but when the cylinder attempts to rise a strain is brought upon the wedge, at the same time IOO IIO

holding stationary the wedge and with it the n plate F and cylinder D.

In testimony whereofI have signed my name Vto this specication in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS VHITAIER.

\Vitnesses:

It. STANLEY WHITE, EDWARD WHITELEY. 

